Versailles

It has been crazy to think that I have been home for 48 hours. I miss Paris so much! There are no words to explain how much fun I had on this trip, or all of the history, culture, and experience that I experienced. I really liked learning about how the French live their life, and how they merge business and culture. 

My favorite place that we visited was definitely Versailles. I loved the fact that everything about the Palace was fabulous. Nothing was short of perfect, and it is hard to imagine that the palace was once somebody's home. The size of the building was so unreal. Not only was it big in terms of square footage, but it was also big in the aspect that everything was so tall and grand. My favorite part of the house was either the Hall of Mirrors or the gardens. 

Charlize Theron starred in a commercial for Dior. The commercial took place into Versailles's Hall of Mirrors. Throughout the commercial, Theron was modeling for a fashion show and strutting down the famous hall. The commercial is obviously very sophisticated and extravagant. Dior is a luxury company with a classy and timeless reputation, and Versailles arguably the one of the most luxurious places in the world. The brand and advertising location seem to be the perfect fit, and this commercial was a great example of how the Parisian culture acquires business. 

Bye-Bye Paris

We are at the airport right now. It is hard to imagine our trip is over, but I genuinely enjoyed every minute. It is sad because we have become such good friends, however I know we will remain friends. I am so thankful to have come on this trip with Dr. Desplaces because he was able to teach us about the business of culture and Paris in a way that made it memorable and enjoyable. I will be posting more pictures throughout the rest of the week, and continuing to blog, so no need to worry- you're not getting rid of me yet!

Free Day

Today was our last day in Paris-nooo! The whole trip went by so fast. We had nothing scheduled for the class, so it was considered a free day.  The weather was rainy and cold, so it was nice that we had the option to choose what we wanted to do. However, the rain provided a very peaceful and beautiful atmosphere and view which was nice to enjoy on the last day.  We used our free day by going out to lunch, and then dinner later. Both meals took place at cute little cafes that were close to our hotel. This was actually a really good way to embrace parisian culture and people. A whole bunch of us hung out together at the end of the night. It was a great way to spend our last night in France!

Side Note

I uploaded my photos on to iPhoto, and they have not been showing up on blog properly. I am trying to figure out what is wrong. As soon as I do, I will put all of my picture up!

The Louvre

Today was an exciting day because we were visiting The Louvre. The Louvre is the most famous and most visited art museum built in the world. The museum takes up about 15 acres of property and houses 35000 pieces of artwork. It was used as originally a palace until 1791. It is home to some of the most famous artwork in the world, including the Mona Lisa. However, it houses arts from all different time periods. I visited four specific time periods, and found great interest in all of them.

We first went and visited the Egyptian time period. It was there where I was exposed to hieroglyphics, sculptures, and a mummy. I loved this section because Egyptian history is so interesting to me. I love how their way of life was so structured, and their art has been preserved so nicley. I really liked looking at the mummy. It was so weird thinking that the mummy was once a living person. It made me wonder what kind of life they led, and why they were so lucky to have been preserved so nicely.  

Next we viewed a lot of Greek artwork. Although there were painting, a lot of the artwork that we saw in this section was sculptures. Some of them were full body while others were busts. However, it was still all beautiful and interesting. It is also crazy thinking about all of the hard work that people put into the art. Although today’s people do not lack the skill to make such beautiful pieces of work, they often lack the patience that is necessary, and that is what makes these pieces so rare.

After that is when we visited the Mona Lisa. It is not as small as I thought it would be, but still weird to see. I have seen and heard about DeVinci’s painting hundreds of times in my life, and it was so weird to think that I saw it up close and in person. It is cool to have seen it with my own eyes. However, the picture opposite the Mona Lisa stretched from the floor to the ceiling, and didn’t get half of the attention. I felt kind of bad for that artist, but still paid more attention the Mono Lisa.

Lastly, we went and visited Napoleons apartment. I have never seen anything like it before. I almost liked it better than Versailles. Everything in it was massive and royal. The chandelier was beautiful, and I have never seen anything that big before in my whole life. It is crazy to think that he actually lived there.

We finished our night with dinner- our last dinner with Dr. D. I couldn’t believe that our trip had gone by so fast. We seriously grasped so much of Paris, and made amazing memories and friendships along the way. Dinner was of course delicious, and we enjoyed good conversation with Dr. D and his sister. 

Business and Culture Applications

Today was an eventful day for us. We explained business, culture, and the business of culture in many different forms today. We visited two museums, and met with major leaders in an actual Parisian business. 

We started out the day by exploring the basics of a Parisian business.  We had the privilege of visiting Biologique Recherche, a luxury skin care brand in Paris. It was there where we were able to speak to major leaders in their company, and ask them questions about how they run their business, as well as the business culture of France. They also answered all of our questions that we had about their business or the business of culture in general. They were so kind to offer us their time, and great resources for our class.

After that, we went to lunch at a small sandwich café. My sandwich was seriously so good! That wasn’t a huge part of our day- I just thought I would add that in because it really was amazing.

We visited two museums to expose our selves to different aspect of French culture. The first museum was a museum of what the older versions of modern technology looked like. It was actually really interesting. I got to see things such as the first turn table, the first floppy disk, and the first computer. It is crazy to see the evolution that all of these technologies have made.

The next museum that we went to was another art museum. We had the same task that we did at the last museum, find four pieces of art that you would display in your home. The first piece of art that I choose was by Pablo Picasso simply because it was a piece of art pained by Pablo Picasso himself, and if I was lucky enough to have a piece of artwork in my possession, I would display it in my house.

The second piece of art that I choose was called La Vauge Violette by

Georges Lacombe. The purple in the painting is absolutely beautiful. The picture lives up to it’s title in the aspect that it is very vague and mysterious, but that is what I like about it. It is definitely a piece of art that could leave on thinking for hours.

I really liked the next piece of art because I would love to live somewhere life this. This picture looks like it is a cottage that a Disney princess lived in before she became a princess. I like the fantasy aspect that the picture holds. I like how just by looking at it, one start imagining what their world would be like if they were to live there.

I liked this picture because it is similar to the first one in a fantasy world aspect, and because this is somewhere where I would love to visit. It seems so idealistic. The photo seems so serene, and could easily leave the viewer wondering or hoping to find a place like this during their lifetime.

I am not the biggest art fan, but I enjoy going to museums every once in a while. I liked this museum overall because it gives me time to imagine the world and myself from different perspectives. We finished our night at Relaus de l’Entrecote where the food was nothing less of perfection. I always enjoy dinner because we get to talk about all of the fun that we have had for the day and spend time together!

Pictures

I forgot to post pictures from yesterday-my bad!

This is me with a statue of the man who built Versailles 

Me in front of the back of the palace

Me in front of the famous Notre Dame windows. This picture doesn't give justice to how pretty the colors were.

Shakespeare and Company!

Café Time

We stopped for hot chocolate and croissants after the markets. This seriously may have been one of the best things I have ever had...

Le Marché

This morning we visted Le Marché-aka The Farmer's Market. The market was basically a supermarket on the streets. They sold everything from fresh fruit and veggies to makeup and clothes. The colors were so beautiful, and everything looked fresh. The grapes were massive and purple. Most of the French by their produce from farmers market. This was a great opportunity to experience day-to-day French culture!

The Best Day Ever!

I woke up so excited this morning because today was the day we were going to Versailles! This was the one place that I have been looking forward to going to, and it drastically exceeded my expectations. No group of adjectives can attempt to describe its beauty or size. The amount of history that the palace contains has made me so appreciative of the experience. Inside of the palace, the decor was extravagant. The colors were bold and romantic, and there was gold everywhere. The ceilings were so high, and everything was very spread out. It is really hard to imagine that place as house. The gardens were just as beautiful. Everything was so green and perfect!

After that, Dr. Desplaces noticed a Starbucks! Woohoo! We stopped there and he bought is drinks. I blame/thank my mother for my Starbucks addiction, but it was nice to have a non-fat mocha with whipped cream. It was also an example of an American company that is very successful internationally.  

Next was the American Embassy. This was another opportunity to discuss the culture f business in France. We discussed the US and France's relationship- it is weird to think that France is the US is oldest ally. We also discussed that the French economy is pretty balanced between tourism, agriculture, and imports and exports.

Notre Dame was next on the agenda. I have seen many amazing things in my lifetime, but this may be the best thing. Every detail was beautiful- the height, the sculptures, and the stained glass windows were extraordinary. I would have to say my favorite part of the famous cathedral was the contrast between the sharp details and round structure. Words cannot explain how grateful that I was able to experience this in person.

After Notre Dame, we went to Shakespeare and Company. Shakespeare and Company was a famous bookstore that artists of the “Lost Generation” used to hang out in. Some of these writers include of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein. I absolutely love books and reading, so this was one of my favorite sights in the whole city. It was also one of the places that is in my favorite movie, “Midnight in Paris.”

We concluded our night with dinner at Dr. Desplaces' sisters house. The meal was delicious and the house was amazing! Everyone was enjoying each others company, and new bonds were definitely made. The house had an amazing view of the river. It is my dream to have an amazing house like that when I am older. Everything about this dinner was perfect! At the end of every day, I am so sure that it is my favorite day, but the next day always exceeds the previous! 

Embracing All Parts of French Culture

Today was extremely busy and fun. It consisted of learning in different areas of French culture. We started the day out by visiting the Montmartre- a massive church that's sits on top of a hill and over looks the city. I could use words like massive and huge to describe the cathedral, but they wouldn't give it justice. Once again, the architecture was amazing and left me wondering how the building was built to such 
perfection. The experience was amazing.

We then made our way to a cafe, where we enjoyed good conversation and hot chocolate. Our view was of The Montmartre, which made it much more enjoyable. This trip allowed us to experience something that most Parisians commonly do. It also allowed us to enjoy the leisurely part of French Culture. 

The next thing that we did was definitely my favorite. We were given the opportunity to experience French food through a French cooking class. We made Shrimp and rice and it was so delicious, but even more fun cooking. The lady spoke very little English, and we spoke essentially no French which made it more challenging and exciting. It was fun to have the hands on experience all while enjoying my culinary masterpiece.

 

After that was the Arc de Triomphe. If you want an amazing view of Paris, Arc de Triomphe is the place to go. The detail in the arc is incredible. We climbed the stairs all the way up to the top which may have been the most treacherous work out ever, but the view was completely worth it. I almost liked the view there more than the Eiffel Tower 

because I got an amazing view of the tower in addition to the rest of the city.

We then made our way to Avenue Champs Elysees, the Paris version of 5th Ave. It was here where we were able to discuss some of the French Business Culture. We mainly focused on Louis Vitton and their influence in the business world. Louis Vitton is a very high end store, is famous world wide, and is highly idolized in Paris. We discussed that it is able to keep up it's elite reputation because it is considered timeless, and if one takes a look at some of the facts, it is. Their logo remain has essentially remained the same throughout the majority of it's existence which allows for people to identify it's logo much easier. Louis Vatton is also recognized world wide and is almost the same in every country. It is because of those tworeasons why this company dominated the high end brands in business culture.

We finished the night by going to a play called "How To Become a Parisian Hour in One Hour. The one man show was about stereotypes and how they were demonstrated in Paris. " It was so funny and a great way to end the day! 

Bus Tour, Boat Tour, and Bonaparte

So today was my first full day in Paris and it was busy! We took a bus tour after breakfast. I liked the tour because we were able to get a view of the city as a whole. The tour made me realize that France is much more spread out than I thought it was. The movies and TV shows make it look like it is so close together, but that is not the case. 

The bus tour dropped us off at the Eiffel Tower, and that is where we went for lunch. The food that was served was amazing! The chicken was amazing, and the desert was delicious. It seemed unreal that I was eating lunch in The Eiffel Tower! Most people cannot say that they have done that, and I feel so grateful that I was given the opportunity to do so.

After lunch, we went on a boat tour throughout the city. The tour allowed us to get a different perspective of some of the sights we saw earlier and other sights that we didn't see. During that tour, I got a beautiful view of Notre Dame, which made me so excited to visit! Pictures do not give justice to it's complicated and detailed beauty.

After the boat tour, we went to visit the burial site of Napoleon Bonaparte. He is buried in Les Invalides in Musee de I'armee. The architecture was amazing, and it's structure vaguely reminded me of The Citadel. Everything there was massive. The buildings, stuatues, sculptures, and the tombs were so beautiful.

I would definitely call this first day in Paris successful. It was a great way to get an overview of the city before we go into details. I cannot wait to see what else Paris has in store for us! 

French Breakfast

Today was my first morning waking up in the Paris. It is cold, but nice outside! Breakfast was very yummy. There was all different kinds of bread, fruit, cereal, and juice. The tables were cute. It was very similar to an American
continental breakfast. Normally, my favorite meal of the day is breakfast, but I have a feeling that lunch on top of the Eiffel Tower will be my favorite today!

Bonjour Paris

I arrived in Paris today! I am so tired, but the fact that I am here makes up for the jet lag. The weather is actually really nice, but is not supposed to stay nice for the rest of the week. We spent our late part of the afternoon walking around, looking at the city, and eating. We ate dinner at a place called The Hippopotamus, where I ordered chicken. During dinner, we enjoyed good conversation and good food. However, it was very clear to the natives that we weren't French. When we walked into a market, people were clearly annoyed with our presence and interest in their daily lives. I found it humorous, but only time will tell if I will still find it humorous by the end of the trip. I am running on very little sleep, and am off to bed. I am trying to rest up for tomorrow because we are going to the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. Overall, I am so grateful to be here, and cannot believe my adventure here has already started!

One More Sleep Till Paris!

Tomorrow is the big day! I am so excited, and can hardly believe that it actually here! I am all packed, ready to go, and cannot wait to see what France has in store. The traveling is going to be a little bit intense, but nothing that I can't handle. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." With that being said, it is my goal to soak up as much of the French culture I possibly can while there. I'm genuinely so excited to go, and can't wait to share all my adventures with you!

Paris is Everywhere!

Today was a pretty relaxing day in my life. I went shopping for a Mother's Day gift for my mom, and went to my best friends house. It was at her house when I noticed the Parisian decor throughout her room and bathroom. I was so excited to see this because it was another reminder of the journey I am about to go on. Her room is decorated with feminine and vintage decor often referencing Parisian style and language. These decorations give off not only a feminine vibe, but a romantic vibe that is clearly demonstrated in movies such as Midnight in Paris. It made really happy to see a little bit of Paris while I am still at home!

Living to Work vs. Working to Live

One of my oldest and best friends came over tonight, and we were hanging out. She has been to Paris before, and we were discussing the city. We talked about her favorite parts of the city, the French culture, and what I was looking most forward too. I told her I was looking forward to experience French culture for myself. That is when she brought up how she liked how "relaxed the city seemed." That is when I was able to explain the different type of work ethics that the United States and French have. The US lives to work. We are a very ambitious country, and we have a very intense work ethic. However, the French seem to appreciate leisure and relaxation more than we do. I wish I knew what it was like to live in a country that knew there was a difference between laziness and relaxation- the concept as a whole is so mind-blowing. This is one of the differences that I find so interesting between the two US and France. I hope I am able to observe there more relaxed way of life just like my friend was able to! 

Packing

My room is a disaster because I have officially started the packing process... well I should say, unpacking from school and leaving some of the stuff in the suitcase.  I still have a lot of folding to do and a little bit shopping to do, but I would rather get it out of the way. The weather is supposed to be in the sixties for the majority of the trip, so I will be trying to soak in the last of the cold weather before summer. Even though the weather will be colder and rainy, my excitement for this trip is ridiculous. Packing is making everything so real. I really can't believe that I will be in France in four days! Below is a picture of what my room looks like- I promise it isn't as bad as it looks, and hopefully won't stay like this for too long!

Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower, and Versailles

5 days from today, I will be in France! The thought of that is so exciting to me! I have slowly begun preparing for my trip. My suitcase is slowly being packed, I have been out trying to get my camera fixed before my trip, and researching on some of the things on the itinerary. I am also finishing my paper for the class. I am so excited because we will be seeing so much, and embracing and living French culture. Right now, I am most excited to see Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower, and Versailles. I know these three things are some of the most famous things that Paris has to offer, which is one of the reasons I am so excited to see these things. However, I am also excited to see whether these monuments pass or exceed my expectations. No matter the case though, I am the most excited knowing that by next week, I will be able to have said that I will have been to all of these places!

 

18 More Days!

Monday’s class was super entertaining because we played some games that helped us get to know each other. It has been fun learning about each other in different ways because it will allow us to appreciate our time in Paris together. I also found out that I will be rooming with Kenley which will be super fun!

This week has been super stressful because of finals, but we learned time management skills in class. They tips have made this finals time so much easier then last semester, and a lot more controllable. I learned different tips on prioritizing. I also learned that a tactile learner and that I learn by doing and experiencing the topic at hand. However, the only thing getting me through my three papers and three tests is the fact that I will be in Paris in less than a month.